"Do, or do not. There is no try" - Yoda, 0BBY
Almost daily, we hear of new treatments and technologies that will improve healing and health care generally. Much of this relates to health technologies used in diagnostic procedures, such as ultrasound, keyhole surgery and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In Australia, non-invasive surgery (laparoscopy, for example) is preferred in many cases to conventional ‘open’ surgical procedures. It generally results in less pain, shorter hospital stays and faster recovery times. These advantages are particularly significant for the elderly, because they face reduced risks and improved recovery from surgery.
Examples of developments in emerging treatments and technologies include:
advances in image technology used in keyhole surgery make operating procedures far more accurate and less risky for the patient. Laser-fitted flexible endoscopes penetrate very small incisions and make repairs to hernias, kidneys, knees and other structures with new levels of precision, leaving minimal scarring and tissue damage.
progress is advancing in the treatment of eye conditions with drugs rather than lasers
continual improvement in the materials, construction and compatibility of parts associated with hips, knees, heart valves and eye lenses, making operations safer and shorter
making it easier to quit smoking by developing tablets that specifically target nicotine receptor subtypes
administering chemotherapy through ‘wafers’ or dissolvable discs inserted into the brain at the time of the operation rather than through a vein, port or orally after the operation
development of new drugs that assist treatment of HIV by stopping the virus from making copies of itself and its ability to bind to new cells. Many HIV sufferers can now look forward to a much longer life than anticipated late last century.
genetic testing, which can lead to finding a disease earlier and preventing death
advances in developing prosthetics to replace missing limbs. Improved microchips are powering electronic attachments to muscles, enabling stronger, better controlled movements by patients. The 3-D printing of bones and other body parts is an emerging industry.
improvements in artificial organs such as kidney and heart machines responsible for keeping people alive until a real organ can be found. It is hoped that artificial organs will eventually be used extensively in organ transplants.
Unfortunately, all new technologies come at a price. In the context of a largely publicly funded health-care system, balancing the cost of new technologies, limited resources and the need to maintain health at an acceptable level is difficult. Research, development, testing, medical and specialists’ fees and highly sophisticated equipment amount to millions of dollars, making some technologies unaffordable unless privately donated or subsidised by government.
Much research is currently being done on early detection because the benefits, both personal and financial, far outweigh surgery or other curative techniques. Regular mammogram testing for breast cancer, Pap smears and use of vaccines to prevent HPV (human papillomavirus) infection, PSA tests for prostate cancer and risk identification programs (smoking, blood pressure, cholesterol) are examples of early intervention programs.
Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in Australia. As a result it is the target of considerable research. Discovery of a link between inherited genes, environmental influences and skin cancer is making the prospect of developing a screening program for early detection a real possibility. A genetic link that increases the chances of melanoma is also being investigated, making the prospect of biological therapy in preference to surgery a more cost-effective and individually appealing option.
Early detection has considerable benefits for individuals. Screening programs are not as invasive as the surgery that might be required should the condition progress undetected. For example, a mammogram which involves an x-ray of the breast may reveal a tumour in the very early stages and require keyhole surgery. Without the benefit of early detection, the breast may need to be removed, a much more serious outcome for the patient both personally and financially
Unfortunately, access may prevent some people from participating in early detection and treatment programs. Socioeconomic circumstances and geographic location may influence health care to the point where the diagnostic, treatment and/or rehabilitation processes are not fully utilised. For example, cardiac patients may have limited access to exercise facilities in some areas, socioeconomic conditions may inhibit families in poorly maintained houses from understanding and addressing childhood asthma, and language barriers may make it difficult for some people to understand the extent or locations of the screening services that are available to them.
Furthermore, issues relating to access to dental health are gaining prominence. While fluoride added to the water supply considerably improved dental health for a period of time, other factors such as the high cost of dentistry and widespread consumption of cordial drinks and mineral water (which does not contain fluoride) has meant that dental health problems are on the rise, with socioeconomically disadvantaged groups being the most affected.